According to the clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Boston University School of Medicine, laser treatments followed up by at-home topical skincare regimes produce better results. The assistant professor Ranella Hirsch says home care gives that “extra oomph” that everyone loves. Hirsch believes that better results are seen when the patients are involved in the entire treatment process.
She compares the relationship between an athlete and a coach with that between a patient and a dermatologist. She goes on to explain that a dermatologist can stimulate great results, if patients sincerely follow up on their homework during and after the treatment. Daily regimes like using sunblock and skin moisturizers help improve skin health.
Expert recommendations
Hirsch recommends a topical skincare regime for every laser treatment she does. Sunscreen is a standard application that everyone should adhere to, even without having undergone laser therapy. Using additional creams doubles the effectiveness of the laser treatment. The creams and topical applications have their own mechanisms that make the product work and the laser works through its mechanisms as well.
A common treatment prescribed by Hirsch is over-the-counter retinoid that can be topically applied. It complements laser treatments that are performed for the removal of brown spots, scars and pigmentation in general. Topical treatments are also useful for acne that has been treated with laser therapy. Most laser skincare procedures do entail some kind of follow up topical treatment that the patients have to maintain on their own. Combining treatments helps set the stage and prepare patients for skin treatments that are not limited to laser procedures.
The importance of skincare prior to non-invasive procedures
It is vital to begin topical skincare regimes before the actual laser treatment is performed. For instance, fractional resurfacing is best preceded by a two month skin regime. These are not intensive or time consuming, and can easily be fit into your daily routine. It gives the dermatologist an idea of how well their patient is likely to comply with maintenance guidelines.
If the practitioner finds that a patient is not compliant with set guidelines, he can work around it and make sure other alternatives and options are considered. Being unaware of the patient’s maintenance patterns can diminish the effects of cosmetic procedures. Treatments like laser hair removal, microdermabrasion, skin needling and other non-invasive procedures work best when accompanied by a good doctor-patient relationship.
